Bold opening: A groundbreaking collaboration unlocks scalable, high-quality microbial phenotyping for the bioeconomy — and it’s set to reshape how researchers access and analyze biological data.
Ginkgo Bioworks has been selected by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to design, build, and integrate a modular, high-throughput phenotyping platform (HTP-APP) over a four-year period, with a potential value of up to $47 million. This platform will support the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research program by producing rich, reproducible microbial and microbiome datasets. The goal is to keep the United States at the forefront of the bioeconomy while safeguarding economic, societal, and national security interests and sustaining global leadership in biotech innovation.
The HTP-APP blends Ginkgo Automation’s dynamic Catalyst scheduling software with modular Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs). It is designed to automate entire workflows—from media preparation and cultivation to sample processing and multimodal analytics—while accommodating BSL-2 operations, remote planning and execution, and seamless laboratory integration. The modular design will let PNNL adapt the system as scientific needs change, incorporate new methods or instruments, and maintain high uptime in a national user facility. Conceptual elements include an RAC-based architecture organized into function-focused "pods," integrated transport, and software-enabled interleaving of diverse protocols.
Will Serber, General Manager of Ginkgo Automation, expressed enthusiasm about the project, noting that the collaboration aims to broaden access to high-quality phenotyping at scale and enable researchers to generate datasets essential for modern AI methods. Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, linked the project to broader policy momentum on AI-enabled cloud laboratories, highlighting how AI-enabled lab technology can keep the American bioeconomy competitive on a global stage.
M2PC’s mission centers on delivering a predictive understanding of complex biological systems relevant to DOE’s mandate. The planned platform aims to (i) boost throughput and reproducibility of phenotyping across diverse microbes and communities, (ii) capture multimodal analytical measurements suitable for AI/ML applications, and (iii) establish a sustainable, expandable foundation for future instruments and workflows at EMSL.
For more on RACs and Catalyst automation software, visit Ginkgo’s automation page or the linked EMSL/PNNL resources.
Planned platform highlights include:
- Modularity and expandability: RAC-based hardware that can be reconfigured or scaled as needs evolve, plus software “digital twin” tools to model throughput and pinpoint bottlenecks.
- End-to-end workflow coverage: From media prep and cultivation (including photosynthetic workflows) to sample prep and multimodal analytics (plate readers, imaging, flow cytometry, LC/GC–MS), designed to produce high-quality, multimodal data.
- Operations and reliability: Cloud-lab readiness with remote monitoring, safe recovery protocols, and managed training and support to maximize uptime in a national user facility.
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks builds tools that make biology easier to engineer. Its various divisions offer customizable R&D solutions (protein engineering, nucleic acid design, cell-free systems), agricultural R&D services (lead discovery, characterization, validation, and manufacturing partnerships), modular laboratory automation through Ginkgo Automation, data generation to power AI models via Ginkgo Datapoints, and Biosecurity-ready infrastructure. More information is available at ginkgobioworks.com and ginkgobiosecurity.com, along with Ginkgo’s social channels and blog.
Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements about the partnership’s capabilities and potential success, which involve risks and uncertainties. Readers should consider factors described in Ginkgo’s SEC filings, including risk factors in the Form 10-K filed February 25, 2025, and subsequent filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and are not guarantees of future results; actual outcomes may differ due to market, regulatory, operational, or technological developments. The company does not undertake to update these statements except as required by law.
Contacts
Ginkgo Bioworks investor and media inquiries are available via the company’s listed contact channels.
Source: Ginkgo Bioworks
